CHAP. VI.
Of the Remarkables of the grand Volcano Aetna, in especial; and its most remarkable Eruptions: together with the Vulcanian Islands adjoining.
Notwithstanding the horrid face of things, by reason of the frequent, prodigious, and mischievous Eruptions and Devastations of Aetna: Notwithstanding it continually sendeth forth dreadful flames of Fire; to the astonishment of all Beholders; that its Soyl springs abundantly with often and eternal Burnings: Yet those subterraneous fountain of Fire, that continually feed and supply these Vulcano’s; and the abundance of fat, oily sulphureous, and inflammable matter and fuel, or nourishment, wherewith the whole Country thereabouts, and all the Island over, is so richly stor’d and manur’d with, by Natures own bountiful hand, (everywhere plenteously producing Sulphur, Bitumen, and other rich and fat Earths and Marles, &c.) make Sicily one of the most fertile Islands in the World.
For the Soyl is incredibly fruitful in the best Wine, in Oyl, Hony, Saffron; Minerals also of Gold, Silver, and Allom; together with plenty of Salt and Sugar. There are also Gems of Agats and Emeralds. Quarries of Porphyre, and Serpentine. It yieldeth also great store of the richest Silks, which grow plentifully about Missinga, the chief City. Variety of most excellent and delicious fruits, both for taste and colour; with such abundance of all sorts of Grain, that it was called in old times, Horreum Romani Populi, or the Granary of the Roman Empire; whence also Cicero call’d it, The City of Romes Soul; and doth now furnish some parts of Italy, Spain, and Barbary, besides Malta, and the adjacent Isles, with that which she can spare of her superfluities. Nay, Tully doth not only call it, the Granary and Storehouse of the City of Rome, in regard of Corn; but adds, that it was accounted for a well-furnish’d Treasury; as being able of it self, without charge of the State, to cloath, maintain and furnish the greatest Army, with Leather, Corn, and Apparel. And if Diodorus Siculur may be credited in it, he tells us, that about Leontium, now Lentini, and some other places, Wheat did grow of it self without any labour of the Husbandman. At this day, in some parts of the Isle, the soyl is so exceeding fruitful, that it yields unto the Husbandman and hundred measures of Corn for one. And certainly the Corn of this Country must beeds yield a wonderful encrease, the King of Spain receiving an hundred thousand Crowns yearly for the Custom of Wheat. In this Country also is the Hill Hybla, so famous for Bees and Honey. But too much of the Country. We return to its greatest Wonder of all Ages, and indeed a vernagulous kind of Portent thereof, the horrible Mount Aetna.
Is a marvelous Hill, of fearful and stupendous Fires and Flames; as it were the very Mouth of Hell; distant Eastwards, ten miles from the City Catania, situated at the foot thereof; From which it ascends by degrees, to so many miles height. Others reckon it fifteen miles from Catania: but indeed scarce ten English miles. And yet its full height in a direct, descent, according to its Axis, is computed by exact Geometricians 30 miles; (Kircher has it) except the Printer has added a Cypher too much: as must needs be. This ancient City was build, as some say, in the year of the World 3469, eighty nine years after Rome; and near 500 before Christ. But others in the year 4462, about 500 years after Christ (The first, without all doubt, by most Authentick Authors, the truer account:) and receives both loss, and (if Strabo may be believ’d) advantage, from its nearness to Aetna. For the ejected flames have heretofore committed horrible wasts, which gave Amphinomus, and Anapius, two Brethren, an occasion to become famous for their Piety; who rescu’d their Parents ingag’d by the Fire, and bear them away on their shoulders: whereof Ausonius;
Who will forget Gatania? Of high fame,
For Piety of Brothers, sindg’d in Flame.
Yet it was never known, in all this time, to have been wholly ruin’d or destroy’d, by the terrible threatnings of so troublesome and dangerous a Neighbour; that spares none in his violent raging fits and Convulsions: Yet has been shrewdly in danger sometimes, and much havock’d and spoyl’d in some parts thereof; whereby it may appear, that this last and present Eruption (so prodigious and fearfull) has not been the greatest; as it has not been the first by some hundreds. Several Towns and Cities lay round about it; All or most now buried in Ashes and Ruines, by the late excessive burning and conflagration; even as many have been so in former times.
It was here in this Infernal Mountain, where the Poets fable that Jupiter with his Thunderbolts struck down the Rebel-Giants, the Cyclops, condemned to be Vulcan, the Godd of Fires Hammeres; whoin they feign, forges here his Father Jupiter’s Thunderbolts, and the Arms of the Heroes‘ and laid this Mountain upon Enceladus the grand Conspirator’s back, there said to have been buries; and his hot breath to have fires the Mountain, lying on his face: As Virgil poetizes;
Encaladus with Thunders struck, they tell,
Under the weight of this huge Burthen fell.
Above him was the mighty Aetna laid,
Who now breaths Fires, through broken Trunks convey’d;
And as he weary turns, a Thunder-Crack
Sicily shakes; and Heav’n is hung with Black.
Though Naturalists interpret the Giants, to be hot Spirits included in the Earth, which finding no passage out sometimes burst open most high Mountains, and rush out with violence; and even shoot forth, as it were, their darts against Heaven. The Poets therefore seing’d these Giants to have assaulted the Godds in the Plegraean Plains: but to be struck down, some into Aetna others into the Vulcanian Islands; and others into Hell. And as the grosser Heathen suppos‘d it to be Vulcans Shop, and the Cyclop’s; so the gross Papists there, take it for the place of Purgatory; All alike unfallible.
And here some report, or rather fable, the Empedocles affecting Divine Honour, departing from his company secretly by night, leapt in at the mouth of this Mountain, the he might be reputed an Immortal God; as Horrace witnesses.
Empedocles to be a Godd desires,
And casts himself into th’Aetnean Fires.
But that his Iron Slippers, or Brazen Shoes, which the Fire had thrown up again with its belching flames, to have discovered the matter. But wiser men more rightly relate him, to have perished only, as a curious and ventrouts Observator; going about to search out this Fiery Lake, and thereby to have fallen into some pit, or ditch, and consumed in the Burnging.
The barren top of the Mountain is encompassed with a Bank of Ashes, Cinders, and Pumices, &c. of the height of a Wall. In the middle is also a round Hill, of the same matter and colour; wherein to be two great Holes, fashioned like unto Cups, which be called Craters; Out of these do rise sometimes sundry great flames of fire; sometimes horrible smoak; sometimes are blown out burning stones, in infinite number. Moreover, Before the said Fire appears, there is heard within the ground, terrible noise and roaring. And also (which is more marvel) though it continually burns, nay when the smoak and fire is most abundant and fervent; yet round about the top of the said Hill and uppermost parts, where the Fire is greater and continual, are seen perpetual and most deep Snows, and hoary Frosts. And from all Antiquity has this Mountain burnt after an horrible manner; and often-times affects the Neighbouring Regions with incomparable and unvaluable loss; though yet not a more fertile Region in the whole World, as was before described, &c. The Cinders and Asches of Aetna, as Pliny testifies, fall down an hundred and fifty miles distant from thence. Mr. Sandys makes such a following Description of it.
Aetna (now Mount Gibel) call’d by Pindar, the Coelestial Column, is the highst Mountain of Sicily; for a great space leisurely rising; in so much as the top is ten miles distant from the uttermost Basis. It appeareth Eastward with two Shoulders, having an eminent Head in the middle. The lower parts are luxuriously frueful; the middle woody and shaded; the upper rocky, steep, and almost cover’d with Snow: yet smoking in the midst, like many conjoining chimneys; and vomiting intermitted flames; though not but by night to be discerned: As if Heat and Cold had left their contentions, and imbraced one another. This burning Beacon, doth shew her Fire by night, and her Smoak by day, a wonderful way off: yet heretofore discerned far futher; In that the matter perhaps is diminished by so long an expence; My self (says he) have seen both plainly unto Malta. And the Mountain it self is to be discovered an hundred and fifty miles off by the Saylors. Those that have been at the Top do report, That there is there, a large Plain of Cinders and Ashes; invironed with a Brow of the same; And in the midst an Hill of like substance; out of which bursteth a continual Wind, that keepeth an horrible rumbling; evaporating flames and smoak; which hangs about it like a great long Cloud, and often hurling forth Stones and Cinders. Wherefor the story of Empendocles the Sicilian Philosopher’s throwing himself down head-long thereinto, is by some call’d into question. For it is impossible to be approach’d, by reason of the violent Wind, the suffocating Smoak, and the consuming Fervour: (yet he might approach too near, and perish:) This Mountain hath flamed in times past so abundantly, That by reason of the smoke, the Air involv’d with burning Sands, and thick Vapours; The Inhabitants hereabout could not see one another (if we may give credit to Cicero) for two dayes together. The extraordinary eruption thereof hath been, and is to this day, reputed ominous. For so the most famous Convflagrations, in former times, hapned hard before the Servile War in Sicily; which was not pacifi’d and ended, but by the slaughter of three score and ten thousand of the Slaves, (who had taken up Arms against Rome) by the Praetors; at which time it raged so violently, that Africa was thereof an astonish’d Witness. This was about the Year of the World 3900 not long before Christ. And so shortly after the death of Julius Caesar, when not only the Cityies thereabout were damnified thereby, but divers in Calabria also; and portended those Proscriptions and bloody Wars, which did after follow. But these great Eruptions of Fire, are not now so ordinary as they have been formerly; The matter which gave Fewel to it, being wasted by continual Burnings: So that the flames which issue hence, are hardly visible, but by night; thought the smoke shew it self the most part of the day: Yet even at this day, once in three of four years, it falleth in great flakes, on the Countrey below, and Vales adjoining; to the terror of the Inhabitants, the destruction of their Vintage, and great loss of the Countrey. But that, they say, is recompensed by the plenty of the following Years; The Ashes thereof (according to Strabo) so battling and enriching of the Soyl, that both the Vines, and Cornfields are much bettered by it, and prosper above admiration. For indeed we find by experience, that Turf of the Ground, burnt to Ashes; ans so spread on Land, and ploughed into it, doth yield a very great improvement, even to barren Soyls. Howbeit at this day, much Ground above it lies wast, by means of the ejected Pumice.
Besides, the Countrey hereabouts is daily foraged by Theives, who lurk in a Wood of eight miles compass, that neighbours upon Catania.
But Virgil’s admirable Description may serve for all.
Aetna here thunders with an horrid noise,
Sometimes black Clouds evapoureth to Skies,
Fuming with pitchy curls, and sparkling Fires,
Tosseth up Globes of flames; To Stars aspires:
Now belching Rocks; The Mountain’s Entrals torn:
And groaning, hurls out liquid Stones thence born
Through th’Air in showres; and from its bottom gloes,
Like boyling Fornace; ----------------------------
The reason of these Fires, is the abundance of Sulphur and Brimstone, contained in the Bosom of the Hill, inkindled by Subterraneous Heats, Spirits, and Fires; with the free ventilation of the Sulphurous, and asily inflammable Air, and agitating Winds, through these open Vulcanian Vents and Funnels; with innumerable Chinks, Trunks, Pipes, and Caverns, with other conveyances through the Earth, &c. Also through the Chinks and Chaps of the Earth, there is continual more sewel added to the Fire; the very Water adding to the force of it. As we see the Water cast on Coals in the Smiths Forge, doth make them burn more ardently: And besides, prepares the matter with due moisture to be fit Fuel for new Fires, &c. And Sicily is an Island all over Cavernous and Fistulous, and pervious to the penetrating Winds, and under-ground Fires, and inflammable Spirits; and within abounding with Sulphur, Bitumen, and other fit Fuel and Materials, &c. And so is most convenient both for inward Combustions, and outward Ventilations, and thereby for the extreamest Inflamations and Burnings. But the Original Sourse and Fountain, or first and principal cause of all these, are by some later accounted to be, the Subterraneous Abysses, and Storehouses of Fire and Heat, which Nature has provided and furnished her self with underground; in her inward parts, for the necessary uses and occasions of her exterior, &c. As was at the beginning observ’d. The reason of this flame is thus set down by Ovid.
A Rozen Mould these fiery flames begin,
And Clayze Brinstone aids that Fire within:
Yet when the slimy Soyl, consumed, shall
Yeeld no more food to feed the Fire withal,
And Nature shall restrain her nourishment,
The flame shall cease, hating all famishment.
But more fully by Lucretius.
Hollow the Mountain is throughout; alone
Supported well-nigh with huge Caves of Stone.
No Cave but is with Wind and Air repleat;
For agitated Air doth Wind beget,
Which beats th’imprisoning Rocks, when hot it grows.
The Earth chas‘t by his fury; and from those
Strikes forth fire and swift flame: It self on high
It mounts, and out at upright Jaws doth flie:
And Fire sheds far off; far off dead Coals
Transports: and fumes in misty darkness rowls.
Ejecting Stones withal of wonderous size;
All which from strength of struggling Winds arise.
Besides; against the Mountains Roots, the Main
Breaks her swoln Waves, and swallows them again.
From whence unto the Summit of th’Ascent
The undermining Caves have their extent:
Through which the Billows breath; and flames out thrust
With forced Stones, and darkning showrs of dust.
Besides as was said before, Aetna is full of Sulphur and Bitumen, apt to be kindled; And so is all Sicily, the principal Reason that it is so fertile
But after all this, we will give you Kircher’s later, and more particular Relation, and Description, both of it and its Causes; and of its most noted Eruptions, &c.
A Description of Aetna by Kircher.
Wherein, as in a certain Prototype, the Reasons of Subterraneous Fires, and their never failing food, are demonstrated, as we use to say, to the Eye.
When I survey’d Sicily, in the year 1638. before all things, I thought fit to examine the Mountain Aetna, most of all celebrated by the Monuments of all Writers. A great Prototype, I say, of all burning Grounds; and that the most famous type, of almost whatsoever kind of ragings, by Sea or Land, outrageous. And with this one onely spectacle of Nature alone, Sicily is (and ever was) admirable. Seeing you can scarce find an Author either of the Antients, or Moderns, who the violence of its ferocious nature, hath not drawn into admiration and astonishment. Yet because they have only beheld afar off the genuine Causes of so great effects: we coming a little nearer to the matter, from those things which in these last times, have been observed with my own eyes, intending to prosecute its Nature and Constitution, we will endeavor to demonstrate opportunely the cause of so strange and exotick effects.
Aetna therefore, is one onely Mountian, rearing up on high its Top or Spire, unto thirty miles, according to the Axis (or direct line through the Center, or midst) as by Maurolicus and Clavius attested, who searched out its altitude, by a Geometrical account and computation. But it takes up sixty, or as others say, an hundred miles space, with its roots, spread wide round about; fruitful with fat Fields, Vineyards, Fountains, Pastures, lying round about. And Woods of Pines and Beech; and full of Forrests of most high Fir-trees. But at the utmost top is broken and cragged, with unstable Cinders, and Pumice stones; and cleaves open with a most vast Crater, or deept mouth’d Cup of twelve miles in compass, which in a steep descent straightens it self narrower, even to the bottom of Hell, as it were. A most horrible Praecipice to see to, most formidable with flames, fumes, both from the very bottom, and from the sides of the Mountain; with an horrendous roaring and bellowing, not unlike bursting forth of Thunders. That the very imagination and thoughts of the fire and ruines, so nigh at hand, could not, presently at the first reencounter, amaze and afright any man; although the most audacious and fearless; and make him start therefrom, as it were from a certain infernal Gulph of Hell.
And I doubt not but those burnings which are here seen in all Ages, have by the constant rejectings forth of Ashes, much augmented this vast Mountain; which on every part, both the ghastly fight of steep descents of Cliffs; and the Cindry, and Pumice-stone-like face of burnt Rocks; as also the appearance of huge Dens, (one whereof you may see capable to contain thirty thousand men easily) formidable with burnt Pumice-stones, as also with refuses and recrements of various melted Mineral Matter, does abundantly shew. You may see in many places, paths of huge Torrents, from the said matter, call’d Sciarra, which have left, is it were, certain foot-steps and tracks of great havocks, and destructions, from the fiery flux of flowing of the melted Mettal. In the very top, Snows, and Ashes or Cinders; as if they had meditated an Eternal Wedlock, are seen to overwhelm all things with a sad and doleful countenance. Verily, by so much more dangerous to incautelous Visters; by how much certain profound devouring Gulphs, covered over with Snow and Ashes, and stretch’d forth all along, descending into the inmost Abysses, without bottom or end; are more frequent. Which as they have swallowed up very many, unadvisedly coming near to view without a guide; so have, by their ruine, left an example to others; not rashly to venture upon those places, which by such occult Artifices and Machines, and hidden deceipts cheat Mortanls out of their lives. Even as Fa. Matthew Taveran, a curious searcher out, as of all natural things, so of this Mountain also; try’d and experienced with great peril of his life. And to be short, All the matter of the upper part of the Mountain. Seem’d to be nothing else but a confused heap, and hanging of it self aloft, of Cinders, Pumices, and Stones, which they call burnt Coal-stones. Which seeing it is on every hand exposed, and easily penetrable, both to Mineral Spirits within; and also without, to Snows, Rains, Hails, and Winds. It out certainly, not to seem wonderful to any, that this adust and burnt matter, as it is impregnated, with new and new provision always from Heaven; so it should conceive, in succession of time, new Generations and increases, so as to burn again afresh; and without end, again and again flame with new Conflagrations. As Virgil testifies;
Whatever furious matter fees the Fire,
As soon as burnt, goes out: hat spent all’ts Ire,
Wherewith to rage: Cinders and Seedless ground
Lie fallow: which course oft it suffers round:
And thus exhausted by a thousand fires,
Renews its former strength; new flames respires.
For wheras, in the utmost bottom of this Hellish Gulph, the fire is at not time extinguished, but always sends forth some marks and tokens of it self, either boyling heat, or smoke, or flame, as I have often in the examination of the Mountain observ’d: Yet outwardly it begins to grow fierce and terrible, but only at certain intervals of time, more or less, according to the plenty of the combustible matter heap’d up together. And by how much the longer it hath ceased; as if the matter was more ripen’d, vegetated and grown for burning; by so much it bursts forth with greater violence; and together with the very flame, sends forth huge heaps of Sands; and as Lucretius asserts, Prodigious Stones of wondrous weight hurls forth.
A Description of the Aetnaean Crater, or (deep and wide-mouth’’d) Fire--Cup.
The Crater, or Fire-Cup of Mount Aetna, is found by different Observations to be of a different largeness and capacity. There are some, who say, they have observ’d it to be two miles, and eighty paces wide. Others thirty miles. Others, lastly, four hundred miles (No question here must be some mistake in the Printer, adding too many Ciphers to the numbring Figures.) But it cannot be that in an Orifice, expos‘d to so great tumultations, and continually agitated and tossed, with so many assaults, fits, and convulsions of ferocious, and rageing Nature; it should not be found, ever and anon; sometimes larger, sometimes straighter; according to the condition of the Times. Which I my self also with greatest admiration have try’d; not in Aetna only, but also in the Liparitan Mountains; yea and in Vesuvius too; sith the Mountain, even at the least more vehement eructation, is much shook; and from its shaking, heaps off more diseasy and slippery matter being gathered together, and accruing to the Mountain, fall down always with the Mountains more violent jogging, and convulsion, as it were; which heaps, as they are now big, with a new birth; so they give new food and nutriment to the Fires. And so from this fall of the Mountainous parts; its necessary that the Crater be made wider; whence it comes to pass, that the interiour parts of the Mountain rise up and swell, increasing by little and little; and the empty places of the diminishe’d, or lessened Crater are fill’d up. Whence of necessity likewise, the Crater of the Mountain must be rendred straighter too. Yea Histories relate, that the matter heap’d up within, from the fall, have thereupon grown to such an excrescency, that for the course of many years, it sent forth neither smoke nor fire; And the devouring Gulph to have yielded access and admission, to the more curious, very far, without all hurt and danger; till the fuel of new copious matter, and now ripe and mature again to conceive fire; assaulting and setting, as it were, again upon the Mountain; and being re-kindled, aving shook off its Yoak, by so much the more power powerfully wax’d fierce with horrendous burnings; by how much its supply of combustible matter was greater and more ready. And this lot all the Vulcanian Mountains undergoe; which sometimes making respites, grow unto an immense greatness, by the coacervation of matter falling in; sometimes by occult Machinations, and contrivances of Subterraneous Fires, the Fuel and Sustenance of the prepared matter being kindled; That which was in so many years exceedingly grown, is shook asunder by horrible Tempests of burnings, and vomits it out even from the lowest Hell of the Mountain; even as at this day is apparent. Which spectacle is so formidable, that there is none so stout-heartrd, that can look into it without fear; and, as we say, his Hairs standing an end, and his head turning round with giddiness. The devouring Gulf is so deep, that it exceeds all eye-sight; and fearful with Rocks, rising up out of the sides like Pyramides. And whereas the sides by direct and perpendicular guidance and conduct of the Rocks verge, or bend and incline downwards, in a Parallel (and equal) descent; Yet according to the Laws of Opticks, they seem by reason of their too much distance, to meet in the Centre; which has impos‘d on many Observators, deluded by this Optick Mockery, to think, the interiour sides of the Mountain to be drawn close and straight, into a Conick Surface and outside. In the bottom (wonderful to be spoke!) the Mountain always from continual eructation of Mineral matter, undermines and attempts, I know not what, towards the constituting and erecting a new Fabrick of a Mountain; And accordingly I remember, I always observ’d (as it were) a certain Laky Pit, glistering with melted Metal. The sides up and down, by fit and correspondent passages, vomit forth perpetual Smoak in abundance of places;which by night we understood to be an enkindled flame. This voraginous Gulph is never without roarings and bellowings; which now and then it utters so horrendous, that they make the very Mountain it self to quake and tremble. In a word whoseever desires to behold the power of the only Great and Good God, let him betake himself to these kind of Mountains; and he will be so astonish’d and stupefied with the ineffable effects of the Miracles of Nature, that he will be constrained ever and anon to pronounce, from the most intimate and inmost affection of his heart; O the depth of the Riches and Wisdom of God! How incomprehensible are thy Judgements, and how unsearchable thy wayes, by which thou hast constituted the World!
The Mountain is so high, that from thence all Sicily may be suvey’d at once; Yea, and your sight help’d with an opportune and seasonable time, may reach even unto Africa. But if by any Tempest the Mountain be troubled and disturb’d; then you would think, that there was an end of the lives of all conversant there: All things are so invovl’d with horrendous Storms and Whirlwinds, together with thick Snows and Cinders.
I said a little before, that out of the sides of the Mountain great plenty of Smoak mixt with Fires, was discovered in very many places, which Aestuaries or raging places, if in time they be overwhelm’d, either with the concussion and shaking of the Mountain, or any other accident; Then the raving fury and madness, as it were, of the Mountain growing on, it has been found to prepare and get its exit and way out, even from other places, through the outmost surface of the Mountain; which when it comes to pass, it effects such orrid clefts and openings, and such wide-mouth’d divulsions, with such formidable passages of the Subterraneous Vaults and Store-houses; which astonished with admiration we heheld, even to this very day, sometimes to have been. I saw a Cavern, which would easily contain an Army of thirty thousand men; as a little before we hinted.
There is there also a most dark and Caliginous Den, which they call, La Grotta della Palomba, of such profundity, as well as capacity; that the Inhabitants of the Mountain think, that therein is a passage made of some Submarine path to the Liparitan Islands. But that frome these and the like Cavers, and under-ground Vaults, fiery Flouds and Rivers have issued forth; The Channel hard by, fill’d and stuft with Pumice and adust stones, which the Sicilians call Sciarra’s, does abundantly instruct us. Which Torrents indeed of liquid and melted Fire, Histories deliver to have flown and run down sometimes to eighteen miles in length; and sometimes, now one, then two, three, or four miles space in breadth. So that hereupon none can sufficiently admire, from whence such an incredible fertileness of melted matter should take its original; where, and in what places it should have shops, and fusory or melting furnaces, of so great capacity, hidden and laid up underneath, to the liquefaction and melting of so many Minerals and Metals.
But as these inaccessible works of God, are most remote from all Sense; so they can never be enough penetrated and pry’d into by any humane Understanding; And it remains only to wonder and admire at, what cannot be conceived of the incomprehensible Majesty of the Divine Works. For if you undertake an account or computation of the melted matter, according to the calculation of divers times; you would find it to grow to such an extravagant heap, that it would far exceed twenty Aetna’s, in its bulk. But that we may more clearly confirm our Account and Reckoning according to Reason, I will subjoin here a brief Chronicle, of the more famous and celebrated Fires and Eruptions; wherewith the Mountain fiercely raging with horrendous destructions and slaughters, has at all times exerted and discovered its Burnings.
A Chronicle of the Eruptions, and Burnings of Aetna.
1. In the time when the Janigenae, or posterity of Janus, going about to seek new Colonies, first entred Sicily, (which was about the year of the World 2600; almost as many years before Christ, as since; and almost as far as any Writings or Records;) there was so great a burning of the Mountain, as Berosus delivers it; that the new Planters, leaving the Island for fear of the Desolation, went to seek new Colonies and Seats in Italy; by no means in the least thinking that a commodius station, which the horrible fierceness of Nature had rendred so formidable, with so many, and so great and so deadly and tragical slaughters and destructions; so that hence, upon this occasion, seems to be introduced the Fable of Proserpina’s Rape. (And hence perhaps may be concluded, that this Mountain has from the Creation, been used to vomit forth Flames, and may doso to the Worlds end; though Ovid divines otherwise.)
Aena, which flames of Sulphur now doth raise;
Shall not still burn; nor hat it burnt always.
2. The Janigenae sometime after followed the Sinanians; who were drove away from the Eastern parts to the Western, by new Tempests and Whirlwinds of the Aetnaean Burnings.
3. In the time of the Argonauts, (about the year 2714, and above a thousand before Christ) which when the most ancient Orpheus had seen, sang thus.
But now arriv’d at th’ Lilyboean Strait,
We feel fierce Seas; On high Fires reach our sight,
Of hot Enceladus, threatening dangers great.
4. In the time of Aenea’s expedition, who repulsed from the shoar of Sicily by the Cyclopses; and greatly terrified by the burning of the Mountain, left that deadly station. Virg.
And to unknown Cyclopean Coasts we run;
The Port was great and calm, with sheltering shoars;
But near, from horrid Ruines, Aetna roars, &c.
5. Under the Dominian of the Greeks in Sicily, viz. from the second Olympiad, even to the 88th; viz. from about 3180, till towards 3600, as Thucidides testifies, who lived in this time; The Mountain was all on fire, with three huge Burnings. A little after which time, the Mountain raging anew, is said to have drawn even Pythagoras himself into highest admiration. Also in the time of Hero, when Histories deliver, that even Empedocles, an observer of the Mountain, then perished.
6. In the time of the Roman Consuls; (for about 450 years) Four remarkable Burnings to have happened, is collected out of various Authors; Dlodorus, Polybius, and others. Whereof, that before the Servile Wars, about 3830, was prodigious; The Mountain belching forth into vast Fires, and spread it self far and wide. Of which before.
It seems to have reach’d Catania it self, when the two pious Brethren, before mentioned, rescuing their Father, perished all in the Flames.
7. In the time of Julius Caesar, (about fifty years before Christ) Diodorus delivers, that Aetna did again rage most violently; And which they will have, portended the death of Caesar. For it is reported to have been so great, that the Sea with its fervour and boyling heat, burnt even the very Ships, as far as the Vulcanello’s; All the Fish being extinct, and decocted or boyled. And so within twenty years that the Mountain burnt four times.
8. In the time of Caius Caligula, forty nine years after Christ, the Mountain did again rage so, that Caligula abiding at that time in Sicily, and possest with the terror of the impendent mischiefs, betook himself to safer stations there. Yet they relate, that Hadrian Caesar, in the greatness of his mind, to have ascended the Mountain very far, whilst yet it raged, to consider more nearly so great Miracles.
9. About the Martyrdom of St. Agatha, the famous Martyr of Catania, by whose merits and intercession (as they are fondly imagin) it was effected, that the Mountain, although growing fierce, yet durst not touch or meddle with Catania. And so ever since have reposed great confidence in her, and her Reliques; which in this late fiery inundatation, the Religious carried in procession, with multitudes of people, whipping and mortifying themselves, with all signs of penance. But enraged Vulcan would not be scarr’d away nor appeas‘d so. And yet ‘tis like they will be fondly made to believe still, that ‘tis by her virtue and merits that the City is preserved: For which (no doubt) she shall not lack her Festival Honours, and Publick Solmnities.
10. In the time of Charles the Great, in the year 812; who also much terrified with the fierceness of the Mountain, is said to have sought safer places.
11. From the year 1160, to 1169, all Sicily was shaken with huge Earthquakes, and the Mountain Aetna foming mightily, overthrew all the circumjacent places with incredible desolation; with the ruine of the Cathedral Church of Catania; In which also the Abbot John with his Monks was overwhelmed, and perished: (St. Agatha was to blame sure, and too too unkind.)
12. In the year 1284, a fearful burning happened about the death of Charles King of Sicily and Arragon.
13. In the year 1329, even till 1333, the Mountain raged after an horrible manner; In the time of the King Arragon.
14. In the year 1408, under King Martin.
15. In the year 1444, even to 47, again and again.
16. In the year 1536, even to 37, it sent forth a fiery floud, and Rivers of Flames; bringing desolation to the bordering places.
17. In the year 1554, raging more than ordinary, it battered Catania it self, its Suburbs and Fields, grievously. But St. Agatha forsooth, still came to help in time of need, and defended it still.
18. In the year 1633, even to 39, the burning raged by so much the more formidable, by how much it lasted the longer time; which seeing many have described, I will not insist in reciting it.
19. In the year 1650, raging afresh on the Northern and Eastern side, and bursting asunder the Mountains, it vomited forth such a quantity of Fires, that it almost brought Brontium into utmost hazard and destruction, with its fiery Torrents.
20. Lastly, this present year 1669, the most horrible of this Age for its mighty devastations, sorely threatening even Catania it self. And all respects considered, perhaps not inferior to any former Ages; according to the lat publick Relation, universally known; For its fiery Torrent was as vast for length and breadth, as any of old; and approach’d the very Walls of the City, ruining many Houses near thereunto. And which is remarkable, by the huge quantities of congeled matter, hath formed a convenient Port over against the Castle, seventy foot deep in water, able to contain many Ships.
Corallary I.
From these things it plany appears, that the Mountain, its matter being consumed, takes respite; sometimes for a greater, sometimes for a lesser space; till at length increased by new provision of combustible matter, it breaks forth, and acts those Catastrophe’s, which with admiration we read of. And yet it is so far from being dimished by so great an eructation of matter, that it seems rater to be augmented. Sith indeed the Citizens of Catania digged for digged for Pumice-stones, and opening the Earth the depth of an hundred Palms, found Streets paved with Marbles, and various footsteps of Antiquities; which plainly teach, that Cities built here of old time, have been overwhelmed with the castings off, or rejectaneous offals and offcasts, not without the great increase of the Mountain. They found besides, very many Bridges of Pumices, which were made, and consisted only out of the meer flux or flowing of the fiery Torrents; the Earthy softer substances being eat away. And of late, not far from the City, an Image of our Lady, was under Earth (as they say) accidentally found. Whose reputed Miracles have got her already much fame. From the ruines, no doubt, of some Religios Place, &c. Flame also now and then appears in the exalted or higher rais‘d Earth; anon disappears: which are clar and conspicuous signs and tokens of the Earths being rais‘d. Yet Aelian tells us, that as well Aetna, as Parnasses and Olympus, did appear to be less and less to such as sail’d at Sea. The height thereof sinking, as it seem’d. And thereupon supposes the decay thereof, and of the World. But an answer is at hand to this; That it might then perhaps decrease in magnitude. For it may be sometimes, in some Ages, augmented; and sometimes diminished: But in the whole rather augmented. Or else; It was but a meer fancy and opinion. But these are known things. This one thing only hath, after a wonderful manner, tortur’d the wits of Philosophers hitherto; In that they apprehend not whence the unsatiableness and greedy devouring of the perpetual fire should be supply’d with new and new food always. And how the Pumices, Cinders and Ashes, and other refuses of burnt matter, should in succession of time be converted into new materials, fit for fires. Which knot, that it may ne untied;
You may remember that before (elsewhere) we shewed; how that to the conservation of Nature in its perpetual & constant course, there was a necessity of an everlasting circulation and return round of things. In the Heavens, the Elements; the Air, Water, Earth, and ist several sorts, soils, and Minerals, &c. even with the very Fire also, and its materials and nutriment. As appears in the perpetual wheeling round of the Planets and Stars, by a constant and inviolable Law of Nature, so many thousands of years. The perpetual motion and mutation of the Elements; always unvariable in the greatest variety of things. The perpetual circulation of waters, both within, and about the Earth. All Rivers come from the Sea, and return to the Sea again; as Solomon, the Wise, hath confirm’d to us. The Sun dries up the vapours of the Sea; the vapours are received into rain, and return back to the Earth and Sea again. Elegantly expressed by Ovid;
The Earth resolv’d is turned into streams;
Water to Air; the purer Air to flames.
From whence they back return; The fiery flakes
Are turn’d to Air; The Air thickned takes
The Liquid form of Water; That Earth makes.
Or, as Dubartas has it;
The purest humour in the Sea, the Sun
Exhales i'th Air; which there resolv’d, anon
Return to Water, and descend again,
By sundry wayes into his Mother Main.
Many therefore wondring whilst they behold Aetna burning so many thousand years, how the Mountain should not be consumed by so long and lasting Burngings, Nor the Fire ever extinct. But
Bursting wide ope its Fornace Mouth, still streams
With melted stones; still spues out Globes of Flames.
And by a thousand Fires, as Virgil exprest it before,
It spending still the fewel which it burns;
Yet still to former strength afresh returns.
These certainly, if they understood the circling operations of Nature, would not so strangely admire; when as food is never at any time wanting thereto, to perpetuate the Burnings. The Fires burn the Mountain, and convert the Miscellany, or mixture of combustible matter into Ashes. Out of the Asches mixt with Water, a new food and nourishment of everlasting Fire is generated;
Omnia continuo rapidos vertuntur in orbes;
Natura motus perpetuante suos.
Which may be englished to of our Incomparable Cowly, alter a word for his extravagant allusionto drinking.
Nothing in Nature’s constant found;
But an Eternal course goes round.
This premised; I take for granted, First, That a great plenty of Salt lies hid in the Ashes: which even from hence is proved; That Salt is no wayes more easily got, than from a Lixive or Lee of things reduced into Ashes. By this means Nitre, Salt, Allom, in some more moist places, breaking or springing out of the walls and sides, as also in the dunging places of Pidgeons and other Animals, first vegetated and quickned with Urine, is dug forth in most plentiful store and abundance.
I suppose for granted, Secondly, That out of the humid Sea, tinctured and seasoned with a fat saltishness and mixture of other Mineral things; an huge quantity of Exhalations, together with the spirits, and insensible corpuscles of the said things, are extracted by virtue of the Sun. Which being both extrinsically resolved into Rain, Hail, Snows, settle about the top of the highst Mountains; and also intrinsically deriv’d through subterraneous passages of the Sea, do fertilize the matter of the Fire houses underground, with new provant.
These things supposed, I say, That the Fire perpetually powerful, and waxing strong in its Store houses, is also by occult fibres and veins of the Sea insinuating and entering underneath, perpetually augmented; whilst that it replenishesd and recruits the matter consum’d away with fire, (as are the Ashes, and the most porous stones of Pumices) with a Sulphureous Soot, and Bituminous Spirits; And in some measure prepares and siposes it for an enkindling and inflammation. But when by the melting of the Hail and Snow; both with the fervent heat of the Sun, and also with the heat of so near Fire lurking within; and by coming on in Rain, the Dust and Ashes be soked through with a most plentiful bewetting; From hance a certain mixt matter is propagated, which insinuated more deeply within the porous recesses and spaces of the Pumice stones; And then Sulphureous and Bituminous Spirits, which by now lately lodged there, intervening to their help; at length ends (presently, as soon as it is waxen ripe) in a new food and nourishment of the Fire. And that this is so; I found by an irrefragable experiment, in the brinks and edges of the Valleys of Aetna, Vesuvius, and Strongylus, burn up with Fire; in most of the Cindry and Ashy walls and sides of which I found an immense quantity of Salt, Allom, and Nitre springing forth; In some also, a flowing and gushing forth of Bitumen, Napthe, and the like fat oily liquors, together with a most copious quantity of Sulphur. Which have their original from no where else, but partly out of the Cinders of combust and burnt things; from which must necessarily be begot a new off spring and succession of Salt and Nitre; Partly from the Sulphureous corpuscles of spirits; which wile they continually exhale from the lowest Gulph of the Mountain, are condensed into Sulphur in the more cold climate of the Mountain. And so that mixt matter is generated, cut from Salt, Nitre, Allom, Bitument and Sulphur, which insinuated (as hath been said) into the pores of the Calx or Calcined Lime, or Ashes of the burnt and adust Pumices and Stones, it administers that perpetual and everlasting fuel and food of Fire, which we have hitherto inquired after. For this, corrupted by the Fire, as it prepares new burnings; so the fat and sulphureous matter being burnt up, which lurk’d and lay dormant within the Pumices, undergo some respites, or truces, as it were; Till the capacity of the Pumices, and the remaining Calx, or Calcined Ashes, be replenished again, as was said, with the like new birth of combustible matter. But now what happens in the exteriour and outmost surface of Aetna; It’s certain, the same is effected in all other flamivomous Mountains. Nature carrying it self after the same manner always. Yea, he that shall more narrowly and thoroughly dive into these things, he cannot be ingnorant, that the process of Nature, which we have expressed in the exterior surface of the Mountain; but that it keeps the same course and tenour, or order, in its intimate and inmost Fire houses, or Receptacles.
Corallary II.
Hence it follows, That the food and fuel of Subterraneous Fire, follows the Motion of the Sea, raging with a perpetual reciprocation of Flux and Reflux. For from the concitation and commotion of the Tide, The Sea being thrust through occult passages and Burrows, at its bottom; as hath already been inculcated; and joining its fat and humid, to the hot and dray, lodging under Sulphureous Glebes, in the intimate bosoms of the Earth; restores that which is consum’d away, with an uncessant conception and birth of a new generation. But in the external surface, by vapours attracted from the Sea, and which are fruitful, and even big with the said new Geniture (or Generation) of the Sea, it lies within the porous Hives or Cells of the now burnt matter, through the Snows, Hails, Rains, mixt with the Dust and Ashes, a new Geniture or Conception; which in its time, the matter being now mature and ripe, may at length break forth into great Burnings. You see therefore the wonderful and indeficient Circulation of Nature in its operations.
Corallary III.
From these things it follows, that the formal cause of the Burnings of this Mountain, is the Fire it self. The material; Sulphur, and Salt, Nitre, Bitumen, and the like matters apt to cherish Fires, propagated by a perpetual motion from the intimate dark recesses of the Earth, and also from the incumbent Sea plying thereon. The Instrumental; the Cavernous nature of the place; and the whole Body or Bulk of the Mountain wholly full of Burrows, and hanging together aloft, and pois‘d of it self, and perpetually burdened, and oppressed with Sulphureous Smoak and Soot. Lastly, the efficient cause, are Winds and Blasts, which flowing out of the most inward Caverns at this kind of vent or issue, and as it were at their proper gorges and open jaws, exuscitate with certain Bellows, as we may so lay, the dormant Fires, to enkindle the matter, whatsoever shall be found next. Sith all Sicily is wholly bored through with innumerable Caverns and Burrows, as was before mention’d. Else where we have abundantly demonstrated, the wounderful Ragings and Tides of the Sicilian Streight, and the alterations of its flux and reflux; and also the insatiable force of theh devouring gulf of Seylla and Charybdis; and how that it depends on the said Mountain; being disposed after a wonderful way and manner, in Subterraneous Shops, and work houses, throughout the universal Islands. Of which thing, this may be a clear Testimony; that Charybdis tumultuating after an unusual manner, Aetna also withal rages at the same time; being together with it, stirred up with the Spirit of Sedition and tumult; and the sulphureous dens receiving into themselves the more vehement winds and blasts, thereby the combustible matter, agitated and puffed, no otherwise then as with Smith’s Bellows, burst forth violently into huge Globes of Flames.
But other winds blowing, Aetna seems to take respite; for that the orifices of the passages are plac’d ina contrary way to the current waves and flouds of the Sea; and hindred by the neighbour Mountain. But at the East and South winds blowing, according to the constitution of the channels, now Flames, sometimes Smoke, now and then Embers, Sparkles, and Flakes. But sometimes, the Fuel being augmented in it self, it wonderfully rages with burnings, with a formidable stream and floud of Fire and Brimstone; which now and then it is wont to belch forth, out of the inmost shops of the aefluaries of fire underground; with an huge destruction and ruine of the subjected Villages, Fields, Cities, and Cattel. The forerunners of which, are groanings of the Caverns, from intercepted and shut up Spirits; Roarings of the Sea, joyn’d with trembling of the Earth; By all which coming so thick together, Nature, as it were, overpresse’d, and impatient of bonds, breaks open all Prison Doors and Barrs, and rushes any way it can get out; and like a burning River of Floud, consumes, not only Fields, with the mighty rouling stream wherewith it is poured down, but also intire Villages; overturns neighbouring Towns and Cities; and everywhere leaving footsteps full of horrour; devours Woods, Rocks and Mountains; and nothing is able to stand in its way. Of which things the Monuments of Historians are full.
We conclude therefore, the matter of Subterraneous Fire to be not only Sulphur, Bitumen, Pit Coals: but also Allom, Salt, Nitre, Coaly Earth, and Calcanthum or Vitriol, and such kind of Metals. For Sulphur and Bitumen do not make the Fire so impetuous, as that Fire, which subverts Mountains, buries Cities in Ashes, and ejectments of Pumices; and by an incredible violence, belches out stony and Rocky Mountains, out of the very Mountains; as hath plainly appear’d from what hath preceded. But some other thing must needs be adjoined thereto; to perform this effect, which we go about to explain.
I say therefore that the universal matter of Subterraneous Fire, ought to be sharp and thick or gross, as Sulphureous and Bituminous matter are; whereto is joyn’d, with a great and necessary alliance of Commerce, Salt peter; which having its substance replenished with most tumid spirits, and joyn’d to Sulphur, and enkindled; whilst it finds no exit or vent, it exercises that force upon the subterraneous obstacles, that lye in its way; which a little before we have expounded (especially if crude Antimony, and Mercurial Spirits be superadded;) as sufficiently appears from the mighty efficacy of Warlike Guns and Cannons.
Furthermore, the combustible materials, they are not found but in Subterraneous Dens; of which sort, are divers kinds of Stones, various species of terrestrial Glebes, Metallick Mixtures and Miscellanies of the other Minerals; And besides these, Salt, Allom, Saltpeter, Salt Ammoniack, and whatsoever is there found, even to the very Water it self. And even Mountains, and huge vast Stones are turned into matter and nutriment of the Fire; Then forthwith the matter generated only burns; and this being consumed away, the Fire is extinguished; and changing its station, invades another near unto it; as comes to pass in Bituminous Earths. Then afterwards the consumed matter, conceiving new Seeds, springs again; and a good while after is enkindled; which indeed if it be by a sudden generation born again in great plenty, as in Aetna, Strumbolo, the Phlegraean Plains, then they will burn with an everlasting Fire.
But the Generation of such kind of matters is made after this manner: The Sea replenished with fatness and unctuosity, while it enters the hidden Rooms and Chambers of the Earth, by and by nourishes anew the substantial parts of the Mountain extenuated with the Fire; and replenishes their substance, that hath lost its marrow and strength, with a new fatness; and if a way lie open into Sulphureous Vaults and Houses under ground, the water being driven in, will be turn’d into the nutriment of Sulphur; If into Bituminous places, into the nutriment of Bitument; if into Aluminous veins, of Allom; And so of the rest, the same reason. And thus the Substances destroyed by the Fire, are repaired almost after the same way, that Iron is renew’d again in the Island Elva, the Mines for several years lying idle and fallow, as it were; and as stones, which they call Travertine, in the Fields of Tivoli.
But how the said matters should conceive fire, was above said. As how indeed; scarcely from the Sun; not from Thunder and Lightnings; not from any other efficient: but from the very subterraneous fire it self, making its way unto them through hidden passages of the Rocks, which it burns. Or, if they be not immediately touched by actual Fire; then certainly from the Marine waves and billows, intruded by the force and impetuousness of the Winds, through the Submarine gutters and chinks at the bottom of the Sea. For that it cannot be that from the vehement dashing of the billows in the strait and narrow places, and the agitation of the spirits of combustible matter thereby, and the attrition or striking of the fat and Sulphureous Air, that they should not presently conceive Fire.
Of the Liparitan or Vulcanian Islands adjoining, commonly called the Vulcanello’s
West of Sicily in the Tuscan Sea; but South and within sight of Messina, an hundred and fifty miles distant from Aetna, are the Aeolian Islands, so called from Aeolus King thereof. He taught at fist the use of the Sail; and by observing the Fire and Smoak that ascended from these Islands, (for heretofore they all of them flamed) prognosticated of Storms to come. And thence the occasion of the Fable of Aeolus‘s being Godd and King of the Winds, for his admirable skill and invention that way. Of these anciently there were Seven only; (But now are Eleven; ‘tis like made since out of the excessive burnings of the other; as ‘tis said of the little one called Vulcanello) almost of an equal magnitude. Yet Liparis is the greatest, (being ten miles in circuit) as also the most famous, to which the others were subjected. (And hence they are now call’d the Liparitan, and Vulcanian Islands, or Vucanello’s) Its fruitful and abounding with Bitument, Sulphur, and Alumne; having hot Baths much frequented by the diseased. The Fire here went out about an Age agoe; having (as is to be supposed) consumed the matter that fed it. But at this day Strombolo only burns; and that with ragings not inferior to the Aetnaean or Vesuvian. Yet Volcano smokes continually, from Subterraneous Fires. They are said heretofore to have burnt wholly, together with the Mountains, and Sea, as Strabo witnesses.
Volcano, formerly call’d Hiera, is a little Island, burning in the midst of the Sea; where Antiquity placed Vulcans Shop, or Forge; Because of the Fires seen by night, and abundance of smoak by day. And therefore received its name from its nature; consecrated formerly to Vulcan, and called his Mansion. It is said but first to have appeared above water, about the time that Scipio Africanus dyed. A barren Island, stony, and uninhabited. It had three Tunnels, wherewith it evaporated Fire; But now hath but one out of which it smoaketh continually, and casts out stones with an horrible roaring. It was heretofore all on Fire, and the Sea round about, for some dayes together, which Pliny reports, as a known truth, and an instance neer at hand. And has not ceased to be on a flame since, as it were a Mountain of flames only, in the midst of the Sea. For even in the year of our Lord 1444, on the 5th of February, it flamed so abundantly, and flung forth fire and stones, with such an hideous noise; that not only the rest of the Islands; but also Sicily trembled thereat. Perhaps the last blaze. For now flame it doth no: but retaineth the rest of its terrours.
But now Strombolo is the most notorious at this day. Here the Inhabitants formerly were wont from the Smoak, to predict what Winds would blow. Where Aeolus also, the first so skilled therein, was King, &c. as before. It was formerly call’d Strongyle, (corrupted at last into Stromboli) from the rotundity thereof. For it seems no other than an high round Mountain in the Sea; out of the top whereof issueth continually a flame like a burning Beacon; and exceeding clearly; so that by night especially it is to be discern’d a wonderful way. A place so full of horrour to the Neighbouring oslanders; (And yet in those parts where the Rage of the Fire offendeth not, it is of a very fruifull Soyl, and apt for Tillage) and many other of the Ignoranter Romish Catholicks, conceive it (and such like places) to be the Jaws of Hell it self; and that within the damned Souls are tormented. To which purpose the good Catholicks (who are excellent at pious frauds and tales) have, or rather haved rais‘d, a pretty Story of Sir Thomas Gresham, London’s most glorious Benefactor; which we shall by and by transcribe out of Mr. Sandy’s Travels verbatim; True it is he was full of pious and charitable good works and bublick Benefactures in his latter dayes. But upon such an occasion, as this Story pretends; we have not the least reason to believe: For surely all our Histories and Memories could never have been wholly silent thereof; and of a thing so publickly attested before the King, &c. But to return to the business again.
Kircher, in the said often mentioned year 1638, thought good also to examine among others of these Islands, those two chief ones, Volcano, and Stromboli. And Stromboli indeed for the fierceness and outrages of its Fires, which it continually vomited, was guarded from all access. But Volcano making Truces and Intervals with the Island adjoining, call’d Volcanello, annexed to Volcano, which they relate to have been generated of the rejected refuses and offalls of the Mountain, which it belch’d forth out of the last burning thereof; (perhaps that in the year 1444, a little before mentioned) All the Island springs and abounds with Sulphur, Nitre, Bitumen, Yea and the very bottom of the Sea is burrow’d through with innumeral Caverns and Tunnels or Trunks; which both the Vortices, or Whirlpools, and also the frequency of Winds bursting forth, and puffing the Sea after a wonderful manner, do shew. And this made our Author, as himself acknowledges, that he could in no wise dissent from those, who say, There are Submarine Mines and Burrows under the Sea; which correspond with Aetna; and thence, by continued passages and conveyances, through the concavous spaces of the Back of Appenine, with Vesuvius; which he, a prespaces of the Back of Appenine, with Vesuvius; which he, a present and Eye witness, found most true in the said year 1638. when in his return home from these Travels, he was driven on the Coasts of Terra de Lavora, in the Kingdom of Naples, which he found almost reduced unto utter ruine desolation, and the same time, by most horrible Earthquakes; wherein he very narrowly excaped himself with his life; and accordingly hath writ very sensibly and feelingly therefore; too large for this place. But on a certain day more curiously viewing Stromboli at this time, about sixty miles distant, he observ’d it to be more than ordinarily furious: For it appear’d wholly overwhelm’d with Fire, in so great plenty, that it seem’d to belch out flamy Mountains; (A most horrendous spectacle!) And then heard I know not what kind of dull murmer from the Mountain so far off, which time after time seem’d to grow towards them through Subettaneous Burrows, till it reached the subterraneous place, on which they stood; and there utter’d such horrendous Thunderings within the Earth, with so formidable Earthquakes, that none of the company were able to stand on their fee. After the Violence was over, getting up again, not without ineffable consternation, they beheld the Subversion and lamentable Catastrophe of the most famous Town St. Euphemia, three miles off, (which happened in that time;) and the Citty wholly swallowed up. For, seeking for the Town, they found in stead thereof, (wonderful to be spoke!) nothing but a most putrid Lake sprung up in its place. They could find no Men, nor Inhabitants: Thence passing on their Journy, the found nothing else for two hundred miles, but the Carkases of Cities, horrid Ruines of Cattles, Men stragling up and down in the open Fields, and through fear, as it were, withering away. Then passing by Naples, he could not after all this, leave out Vesuvious out of the way of his Observations; what that did also; Of which before in its place. And this was a leading us to another Chapter, concerning Earthquakes, as the proper effects and products of Subterraneous Fires also; and always preceding, and concomitant with these Vulcanian Eruptions; But that we found a Chapter was not sufficient for so great a Subject; and that we had already transgressed and exceeded the intended and prescribed bounds of This.
FINIS.
A fuller Relation of the Spanish Priests Error and attempt, about getting Gold out of one of these flaming Mountains in the West -Indes.
The most famous Vulcano’s in the West-Indies, are the Guatamala, discernable at vast distance on the South Sea. A Spanish Priest out of Avarice would needs found this Mountain, supposing the bottom to be full of Gold. This Priest was called Mossen, born at Antequera, who came to the Indies with Pirarow at the time of Ferdiand Cortez’s Conquest. He had a Sister living with him who had a fair Daughter, whom the Captain married to Lazart d’Almadia, Clark of the Ship, promising 1000 Ducket in Marriage. But the Clark being jealous of his Captain, left his Wife in Spain; and the Captain being come on Shore, with grief for his Mistress absence, died; to whom by his last Will he ratified the 1000 Duckets. Mean while the Clark took command of the Vessel, and arrived in New Hispaniola, where the Priest was very welcome, Priests being there very acceptable; and was accommodataed in the Town of Sanda, where he lived in great esteem for sincerity and devotion; so in few years he grew very wealthy. But no content with this, upon suggestion that the flaming Mountain, not far thence, was a Mine of Gold, he thought to get inestimable riches out of it: for this purpose he caused a strong Iron Chain to be made, to the measure of the height of the Moutain, which he had taken by Artizans; then by strength of Men began to cut a way for portage of his necessaries, which could no be doen but at great expence, a mans labour there being worth two Crowns a day; nevertheless Avarice made him pass it easily. But this beginning was a mean matter, for he must continue the Laboures; being yet not advanced far, by reason of the height of the Mountain, and firmness of the Rock, which he must cut through: nor though many lookud upon the Enterprize as extravagant and inconsiderate, yet the Priest every day got nearer the mouth of the Fornace with expence of time, labour and difficulty. After four moneths space the ponderous Chains and Caldrons, with great cost and pain were drawn up. The good man boasted, He doubted not now to come shortly to his ends, and that he had a Revelation of it in his sleep.
At length all these Iron Engines were set in order, and the workmen, to the number of fifty began to let down a Caldron well fastened to a strong Iron Chain, with other Engines secured, and the Priest himself set his hand to the work: But as they thought to draw up the Caldron full of rich melted metal, the strength of the fire consumed all, and they hardly escaped without burning their hands and feet, so violent a heat burst out upon them. The Priest half mad cried out, The Devil has broken his Chain; with a thousand Curses, ready to throw himself headlong into the Precipice, covered over with Soot and Cindars, and frying with heat, fright, and toyl, that he looked like a right Fury, running like a mad man to and fro; the rest in little better condition, the greatest part being lam’d and consum’d with labour and the violence of heat which had even melted them. The good man at last was brought to his Lodging in extream torment, where they laid him to bed in so much grief and discomfort that he was the pitty of the World. Walking in the night he was surprised with such rage, that he gave himself several stabs in the thoat with his knife; and in the morning his Sister coming to visit him, found him steeped in blood and gastly; half dead, whereupon she cried out for help, and friends came immediately in, and a Chirurgion applied the Country Balsom so fortunately to his wounds, that he was well within few dayes;
